International Mediation Summit 2018 was held in Changsha, Hunan Province on September 12. This Forum was hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), undertaken by Commercial Legal Service Center of CCPIT, CCPIT Hunan Sub-Council, co-organized by Hunan’s Supreme People’s Court, Hunan Lawyers Association, Lawyers Collective, Malaysian Lawyers Association, Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and etc. Vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) Luo Dongchuan, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Lu Pengqi, Hunan Vice Governor He Baoxiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
Luo Dongchuan noted, the establishment of a multi-level, integrated, coordinated and multi-dimensional dispute settlement mechanism is significant to develop the national governance system and modernize its capability, and it is also essential to smooth the constriction of BRI. With China’s further reform and opening-up and deepening of BRI, SPC is dedicated to cooperating with colleagues, experts and institutions at home and abroad to play a greater role in the field of the multi-dimensional dispute settlement mechanism and international commercial dispute settlement mechanism.
“First, we shall deepen the principles of consultation, contribution and shared benefits and from the height of serving BRI to promote the mediation work. Second, we need to deepen the reform and foster the coordinated and integrated working mechanism. Third, it is necessary to strengthen publicity and make mediation a major brand in the field of dispute settlement mechanism. ” Luo advised, “Legal protection is indispensable in the construction of BRI; friendly, inclusive, effective and convenient mediation mechanism should become an important part of it.”
Lu Pengqi said, the world is becoming an integrated unit. Seeking development and dispute settlement in a way of cooperation has become a major trend of social development. International Mediation Summit is a well-known forum organized by CCPIT, aiming to assemble experts in the field of dispute prevention and settlement at home and abroad to strengthen cooperation, seek common grounds while reserving differences and common development.
Commercial Legal Service Center of CCPIT and Meditation Center of CCPIT are the important participants in promoting the construction of BRI and satisfying the needs to settle disputes, providing a strong and powerful backing for Chinese enterprises to develop globally. CCPIT devotes to work with originations and institutions at home and abroad to build a non-confrontational dispute settlement platform, which aims to contribute more to creating a better international, legal and market-oriented business environment.
He Baoxiang noted, settling disputes through mediation has a long history and a profound cultural foundation in China. It claims that harmony is precious, as well as seeking common ground while reserving differences and mutual benefits. The charm of meditation becomes prominent with the background of economic globalization and cultural diversity, especially with the increasing number of international economic and trade frictions and legal disputes. International commercial mediation is increasingly favored by the international community for its convenience and efficiency. It also plays a great role in building a harmonious and healthy bilateral relations and achieving mutual benefits.
With the theme of “conciliatory dispute resolution mechanism researches”, this forum set five topics, which include implementing “Belt and Road” initiative, preventing and solving trade and investment disputes; Constructing and establishing multiple dispute resolution approaches; Updates on the development of enforcement of mediated settlement by UNCITRAL; Live conference with American Bar Association, discussion on the past, present and future of mediation and mediation case-sharing and followed by Q&A session, and the role of lawyers under conciliatory dispute resolution mechanism. More than 400 participants that are lawyers, mediators, arbitrators and legal experts and corporate counsels from over 10 countries and regions were in attendance.
The MoUs of Cooperation between Meditation Center of CCPIT and THAC, Meditation Center of CCPIT and British CCI Credit Management were signed during the forum. It was a big step of Meditation Center of CCPIT to respond to the call of central authorities, which is accelerating foreign cooperation and expanding international influence.
Meanwhile, a MoU of litigation and mediation match-making system between Hunan’s Supreme People’s Court and CCPIT Hunan sub-council was signed, stating that they will establish a litigation and meditation match-making mechanism for foreign-related commercial disputes, and serving the export-oriented economy in Hunan.
